Federal $16m pledge to autism centres

The federal government will top-up and extend funding for six specialist early childhood autism care centres across the country.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott announced the $16 million commitment while visiting Burnie in northern Tasmania, which is home to one of the centres, extending specialist care and support to 40 children and their families.

Established in 2009, the centres will be funded until the end of 2018 to see through the inception of the National Disability Insurance Scheme.